Shooting in Schriever kills one

Published: Monday, March 31, 2008 at 1:42 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, March 31, 2008 at 1:42 p.m.

SCHRIEVER -- A 27-year-old Schriever man who turned himself to authorities Sunday afternoon allegedly admitted killing one man and critically wounding another outside a house on Patrick Drive earlier that morning.

Torrell Brown, 222 Patrick Drive, told Terrebonne sheriff’s detectives he fired the flurry of shots that killed 27-year-old Leslie Ross, of Houma, and left 20-year-old Cartez Watkins, of Thibodaux, fighting for his life at a local hospital.

Based on Brown’s criminal history, which includes arrests for drug possession and carnal knowledge of a juvenile, the shooting may have been drug-related, though detectives are investigating, according to Terrebonne sheriff’s Capt. Malcolm Wolfe.

"You’ve got one guy (that’s) dead, the other can’t talk," Wolfe said. "The two victims went to the suspect’s house, and this is where the shooting occurred. Neither one of them can tell you what they were doing there."

Witnesses to the shooting identified Brown as the gunman, though Wolfe did not release information on the type of weapon used. Deputies called to Patrick Drive about 8:30 a.m. found Ross, who was pronounced dead at the scene, lying in the middle of the street with multiple gunshot wounds.

Watkins was found in a nearby field, shot in the arm, stomach and thigh, Wolfe said. Watkins underwent emergency surgery at Thibodaux Regional and remained in critical condition today.

Brown, who fled the scene, surrendered to the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office Sunday afternoon after Terrebonne detectives spoke with Brown’s family in Napoleonville, Wolfe said.

<p>SCHRIEVER -- A 27-year-old Schriever man who turned himself to authorities Sunday afternoon allegedly admitted killing one man and critically wounding another outside a house on Patrick Drive earlier that morning.</p><p>Torrell Brown, 222 Patrick Drive, told Terrebonne sheriff’s detectives he fired the flurry of shots that killed 27-year-old Leslie Ross, of Houma, and left 20-year-old Cartez Watkins, of Thibodaux, fighting for his life at a local hospital.</p><p>Based on Brown’s criminal history, which includes arrests for drug possession and carnal knowledge of a juvenile, the shooting may have been drug-related, though detectives are investigating, according to Terrebonne sheriff’s Capt. Malcolm Wolfe.</p><p>"You’ve got one guy (that’s) dead, the other can’t talk," Wolfe said. "The two victims went to the suspect’s house, and this is where the shooting occurred. Neither one of them can tell you what they were doing there."</p><p>Witnesses to the shooting identified Brown as the gunman, though Wolfe did not release information on the type of weapon used. Deputies called to Patrick Drive about 8:30 a.m. found Ross, who was pronounced dead at the scene, lying in the middle of the street with multiple gunshot wounds.</p><p>Watkins was found in a nearby field, shot in the arm, stomach and thigh, Wolfe said. Watkins underwent emergency surgery at Thibodaux Regional and remained in critical condition today.</p><p>Brown, who fled the scene, surrendered to the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office Sunday afternoon after Terrebonne detectives spoke with Brown’s family in Napoleonville, Wolfe said.</p><p>The Napoleonville Police Department assisted Terrebonne detectives in contacting Brown’s family. Brown remains in the Terrebonne Parish jail in lieu of a $500,000 bond.</p><p>Robert Zullo can be reached at 985-850-1150 or robert.zullo@houmatoday.com.</p>